Reflections in the run up to rundance, random acts of rhythm

In the run up to rundance 101010, these our some of our thoughts.

Rundance brings expression, lightness and almost always laughter and smiles. It can offer the freedom to express yourself, permission to be spontaneous, and bring an experience of connection.It exercises the heart , supports circulation and releases those feel good endorphins!We are launching some of our ideas and expressions about rundance on World mental health day which falls this year on 10/10/10. A great date for something different. It seems the perfect day to celebrate our differences by rundancing in the streets of Nottingham and we are inviting others to either join us or try out rundance for themselves and share their ideas with us.We plan to make the Nottingham event as inclusive as possible and our experimenting with ways to make Rundance adaptable depending on people's abilities, it can easily become a sitdown dance or a shuffle dance or a ribbon waving dance. In 2008 Nef (New economics foundations) came up with 5 ways to wellbeing. We feel rundance embodies them all rather well!Connect - rundance with others and feel connectedBe active - It's certainly that!Take notice - rundance in nature o the street, either are good ways to get in touch with what's happening around you.Keep learning - rundance is something new & fun. It can be different depending on where you are or who you are with.Give - share rundancing with others, give others a smile and some encouragement.Read more about the five ways to wellbeing and NEF hereThis link is to an article about some studies that have been done in relation to dance and its benefits for mental health. We found some of the language a little uncomfortable but there are some beautiful quotes from people.Here is another Article about improving mental health through dance

Normalising madness and celebrating difference

The date 10/10/10 for this years world mental health day warranted something quite special and it seemed a great opportunity to try and include the wider community than in previous years. I also wanted an opportunity to expand on some of the themes I have been developing in my work around challenging people's perceptions of what is acceptable and normal in our society,

"You must understand the whole of life, not just one little part of it. That is why you must read, that is why you must look at the skies, that is why you must sing, and dance, and write poems, and suffer, and understand, for all that is life.” – unknownI truly believe that mental distress effects us all in some form or other. I think that most people slip on or off a scale where we experience extreme stress, difficult thinking or unusual experiences and our mental well-being is affected. I feel that If more people felt able to be more honest about their emotions and experiences then it would help those that feel excluded from society through their experiences of mental distress and the mental health system and lead to a lot less isolation and discrimination.

“Everything in the universe has rhythm. Everything dances.” Maya AngelouI like to think about a world where we are all encouraged to think differently, where the unconventional is good, and individuals feel good about being different. When it comes to mental health I don’t think difference is seen as a healthy thing and it is seen as something to be fearful of.

Rundance, is an opportunity to be yourself! To express your individuality and have the freedom to simply let yourself go and be as daft or as playful as you might want to be.For many, having the freedom of self-expression can feel quite difficult in our society. There is a lot of pressure on people to conform and often people are afraid of being seen as 'whacky' or 'loony' for doing something slightly out of the ordinary or unexpected. For those that have a mental health diagnosis, there can feel even more pressure to conform, as we often feel that we can't do anything to draw attention to ourselves for fear of discrimination or even just feeling even more 'different' or 'odd'. There is the added worry that if we do something that is slightly unusual then it may be seen in light of our diagnosis and that might have repercussions for us.

“Dance for yourself, if someone understands good. If not then no matter, go right on doing what you love.” Louis Horst.Rundance is a celebration of our differences. An opportunity to share and rejoice in how diverse and unique we ALL are.The medical model categorises people and labels them and the current mental health system, along with medication, side effects and discrimination can contribute towards people feeling 'defective' or 'flawed' and often unable to move on with their lives, and to learn, change, grow and recover. Yet we all have the capacity to do those things. I think wellbeing and recovery from mental distress for many starts from a place of self-acceptance and being free to simply be yourself. Trying to conform to some kind of 'normal' when you have experienced mental distress can be very unrealistic and can inhibit people's capacity to grow. “There is a bit of insanity in dancing that does everybody a great deal of good.” Edwin DenbyRundance is an opportunity to simply let go and go wild, express that childlike abandon that so many of us suppress. Dancing is great exercise and rundancing adds a new dimension where we enjoy being playful. To focus on something fun and enjoyable simply must be good for our hearts as well as our bodies !

“Those who danced were thought to be quite insane by those who could not hear the music.” Angela Monet

Connecting with others who also want to express their individuality and celebrate differences - even though they may not fit in with societies norms or conventions - simply must be an empowering, life affirming and freeing experience.

Penny Arnold

The body + creative 'dwell' being

Physical movement play develops the creation of nerve cell networks which are actually the essence of learning. From the day we are born developmental movement patterns are vital to the complex wiring of our brain for our learning and ultimately our creative well being.As we become adults it is still vital to celebrate movement in our lives' to keep those pathways oxygenated an flourishing.

Whilst neuroscience research is continually expanding on the complexities of this relationship, modern day living is continually reducing the scope of our movement vocabulary. (if we recognize 75% of communication is in fact non verbal this has vast implications)Our daily life movements have so often become flat packed into a smaller or more restricted range of movement possibilities. Our well-being needs many ingredients, but for me the notions of rundance adds a potent ingredient. It brings movement to life with a sense of freedom and acceptance - that it's OK to demonstrate spontaneous expression of this nature, it's natural and we mustn't forget that!! Our cultural 'norms' seem to inhibit such moments. Yet these very moments exist; in media coverage, it's lovely to see a footballer break out in all sorts of joyous, leaping, dancing and gamboling when a goal is scored! We have all seen young lambs bounce and ping in spring time fields.We have all seen young animals or herds suddenly skip and buck with such insatiable completeness on nature programs. The courage to give oneself permission to enter these realms sometimes relies on drink or drugs. Sadly such entry points only disembody and dis-empowers us. They takes us out of our awareness and our consciousness rather than into of our "beingness + embodiment". It is the latter that makes such immersed moments so captivating and delightful to behold. We often speak of "child like abandon" as a releasing exuberant state.... children being much closer to this ease of flexibility and 'being in' the moment. As adults we need to take a leaf out of their world without feeling we'll be judged as being crazy, mad or 'off the wall'.

Rundance captures something of play and surprise which in itself opens possibilities and shifts states of being. It can offer a random moment to step out of the mundane, step out of a rut and in doing so open up choices for ourselves, helping us step into the moment afresh.The movement work I practice and teach ( Skinner releasing and Move into life) helps us 'sense' our habit patterns and explores movement in relation to the body, communication and the environment.I so often witness such subtle and powerful transformations take place....... Our culture splits the body and the mind when we need to integrate them. We have to be careful we don't 'think' our body's existence is merely there to carry our very "O so important brains around". Yet we drive our 'thinking faculties', over work and over stretch them . As a keen gardener with an allotment I would never keep planting potatoes in the same patch of earth each year. The earth would become depleted with no chance for renewal. Like wise a way for the muscles of the mind to relax and refresh is through the body, through shifts of focus + sensory perception - whether they be states that encourage restfulness or states encourage action and energy.

I love Nina Simon's song: 'What have I got that nobody can take away....I got my hands, got my legs, got my lungs ...I got my heart life and soul' it is such an affirmation of what we have in the face of what we haven't.... the t cup half not half empty.After we are born our body is our first home. The health of this unique + beautiful form (mental physical, emotional + spiritual) is the best investment we can make for our future. The best things in life are free and the simplest things are so often the most powerful!!

The play instinct is a vital part of learning and creativity. Fun, joy, play - simple words - so often dismissed as irrelevant, not serious enough reasons to be actively encouraged as part of daily life.Lets take them seriously, lets rest the burdens of the mind, lets follow the spirit of the our are hearts and live into life of our bodies with a random act of rhythm every now and then!Usha Mahenthiralingam